Machine for sewing on buttons



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Patented Nov. 6, 1-894;

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MACHINE FOR'SEWING 0N BUTTONS.

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MAUHINE FOR SEWINGON BUTTONS;

No. 528,832. Patented Nov. 1894.

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UNTTED STATES ATENT FFICEV ALVIN WALRATH, OF LITTLE FALLS, NEW YORK.

MACHINE FOR SEWING ON BUTTONS.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent N 0. 528,832, dated November 6, 1894.

Application filed October 5, 1893- Serial No. 4871 (N0 model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALVIN WALRATH,'a eitizen of the United States, residing at Little Falls, in the county of Herkimer and State of New York, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Button-Sewing Machines; and I do declare the followingto be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and tigures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in machines for sewing on buttons, and the object of my invention is to provide a simple, practical and inexpensive mechanism which will sew buttons upon any kind of fabric with an ornamental, strong and durable stitch.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel stop motion mechanism which will cause the stopping of the machine with the needle in an elevated position, and after a predetermined number of stitches have been placed, to permit the movement of the material and the application of another button, and for other purposes.

To attain the desired objects the invention consists of the novel features of construction and combination of parts as hereinafter described and claimed.

In order that the construction, operation and advantages of my improvements may be readily understood and appreciated, I have illustrated in the accompanying drawings my improved button sewing mechanism applied to a well known form of machine, although I would have it understood that it may be applied to any other machine where it would operate effectively.

Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a portion of a sewing machine with my button attaching mechanism applied, parts of the machine being broken away to clearly show details. Fig. 2 represents atop plan view of the button sewing mechanism, the vibration cam being in the act of shifting the button carrier to cause one of the openings of the button to be presented immediately under the needle. Fig. 3 represents a bottom plan view of the button sewing and stop-motion mechanisms, the stop motion mechanism being in the position shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 4 represents a side elevation of the stop motion mechanism with the parts in operative position before the machine has been stopped. Fig. 5 represents a similar view with the parts in the position they assume when the mechanism is thrown out of operation to stop the ma chine. Fig. 6 represents a detail View of the button carrier. Figs. 7 and 8 represent detail views of the cam for moving the button carrier. I Fig. 9 is a transverse section of the cam traveler. Fig. 10 is a plan view of a button showing the arrangement of the threads I as made by my machine.

Referring by numerals to the drawings in which similar numerals denote correspond ing parts in the several figures thereof: the numeral 1 designates the bed plate of a sewing machine, 2 designates the overhanging arm thereof, and 3 designates the needle bar carrying the needle 4 and reciprocated through suitable mechanism driven or operated by the main or driving shaft 5. On the driving shaft 5 is mounted the wheel 6 having the grooves or channels 7, which for the greater part of the circumference of thewheel run parallel but ata certain part of the wheel they intersect or coinmunieate and form the diamond shaped cam projection 8. In said grooves or channels is adapted to travel the kerfed or bifurcated lug 9, secured upon the vibratory lever 10 pivoted to bed. The bifurcated lug is pivotally connected with the lever and moves as the wheel rotates. From this construction it will be seen that the grooves or channels of the wheel cause the bifurcated lug to assume a position at right angles to the shaft 5 until the cam portion of the wheel is reached when the lug will be shifted from one set of grooves to the other and this action imparts a slight lateral rocking or shifting action to the leverlO. The lever 10 is provided with a longitudinal slot within which one end of a rod 11 is adjust ably pivoted, the other end of which rod is adj ustably pivoted within a slot 'in the plate 12, secured to the base plate 13, of the button carrier, which latter has an opening 14, to allow the passage of the needle. 1s plvotally provided with an upright 15, on wh ch is fulcrumed the clamping lever 16 which carries the button holding devices at one end thereof. The button holder consists of the rigid plate 17 having the recess 17 to receive the button, and the spring clamping plate 17 for holding the button in the recess between the two. The plates are nornally held in the depressed position shown n Figs. 1 and 6, by a coiled spring 18 which s fitted around the pin by which the plate 13 is connected to lever b, and which pin extends upwardly through the lever 16, the spring being arranged between the upper enlarged end of said pin and the lever 16. A chain or cord 19 is connected with the clamping lever 16 for lifting the same to release the button and .work and permit the removal of the fabric and button, or the insertion of the same. From this construction it will be seen that the button will be placed between the clamping plates in the recess 17* and that the material or fabric will be placed between the plate 17 and the base plate 13. The rotation of the cam wheel 6 will swing the button holding and carrying devices longitudinally of the bed plate through the lever and rod 11, and said devices are also given lateral movement by means of the cam a, on the shaft 5, which acts against the heel of the lever b, which is fulcrumed to the under side of the bed plate 1, at an intermediate point of tslength, see Fig. 2, one end of said lever being pivotally connected to the base plate 13, in such manner that the button carrier is capable of the longitudinal movement under the influence of the wheel 6, lever 10, and rod 11. The lateral and longitudinal movements of the button holding and carrying devices are properly timed so as to attach a button in the manner and by the stitch hereinafter described. To the other end of the lever 10 is connected the link or pitman 20, which has its outer end secured adjustably in the slotted portion 21 of the arm 22, which is connected to a lug 23, carried by a sleeve fitted on the hub of the ratchet wheel 241, which is mounted on the stud 25 secured in the frame or bedplate of the machine. To said arm 22 is connected the pawl 26 which engages with the teeth of the ratchet 24:, and to cause the pawl to positively engage the ratchet wheel the small flat spring 27 is employed and also to prevent backward turning of the ratchet wheel the spring dog or detent 27 is used. From this construction it will be seen that the rocking of the lever 10 imparts motion through the pitman to the slotted arm which causes the pawl thereof to move the ratchet wheel a predetermined distance each time the arm is moved, and the slot in the arm permits the pitman to be adjusted so as to cause the arm to move any desired distance and of course turn the ratchet wheel accordingly. To the ratchet wheel on one side is secured an Theplate 13] arm or tappet projection 28, which at every revolution of the ratchet is caused to engage with the outer end of the sliding bar 29, having the slots 30 guided on studs 31, and cause the other end of the bar which carries the block 32 to move away from the lever 33,which action allows thespring actuated rod 31 to move inward. As the rod 34.- moves inward it carries with it the arm 35 having the yoke 36 engaging the grooved hub 37 of the loose driving wheel 37, moving the said driving wheel out of frictional contact with the fixed cupped wheel 38 and thus stop the rotation of the driving shaft. \Vhen it is desired to start the machine it is only necessary to draw down by means of the cord or chain 33 the lever 33 which allows the spring actuated sliding bar 29 to bring the block 32 against the said lever, and which action also brings the friction disk 37 of the grooved driviug'pulleyor wheel 37- into frictional contact with the cupped wheel 38 on the driving shaft and thus starts the machine.

It will be understood that the needle bar actuating mechanism and the stop motion mechanism are so arranged and timed relatively as to cause the machine to stop with the needle bar in an elevated position and after a predetermined number of stitches have been placed in sewing on the button.

The operation is as follows:-The material and button are placed in position as above stated and the outer end of lever 33 is depressed by means of the cord 33*, which causes its other end to push the rod 34 carrying arm 35 toward the fixed driving wheel and through said arm 35 to force the loose driving wheel into contact with the fixed wheel and thus start the machine. The depression of the outer end of lever 33 allows the spring 30 to force bar 29 toward tappet 28, which movement of the bar 29 brings block 32 into position to hold the lever 33 in the depressed positionshown in Fig. 4. The machine thus started, causes the oscillation of the button holding and carrying devices, in a direction longitudinal of the machine, through the intermediate connections with the main shaft. Such reciprocation is continued during the operationof the machine,

but, after a certain number of stitcheshave been laid from one eye to another of a foureyed button, the cam a operates through lover I) to shift the button carrier transversely of the machine, whereupon the continued longitudinal reciprocations of the carrier,cause another series of stitches to be laidfrom one to another eye of the button,the latter stitches being parallel withthe first series. After a predetermined number of stitches have been laid from one to the other of the second pair of eyes of the button, the cam aagain causes the lateral movement of the carrier to its first position. The lateral movements of the carrier, caused by the cam a and lever 12, cause a stitch to be laid from an eye of the IIO first pair to an eye of the second pair obliquely opposite, thus forming between the two series of parallel stitches, two oblique stitches the one crossing the other, as shown in Fig. 10. When the last oblique stitch has been laid, the tappet 28 has reached a position which will cause it to press upon the end of bar 29 and force it in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 5, which will release the lever 33 from the block 32 and allow the spring pressed rod 34 to move in the direction of the aforesaid arrow, and thus remove the loose driving wheel from contact with the fixed wheel and bring the machine to a stop. It will of course be understood that the mechanism for operating the cam a and lever b is selected with reference to the numberof stitches it is desired shall be placed in series the devices shown being gears, one on the driving shaft meshing with one on the shaft carrying cam a, the latter gear being proportionately larger according to the desired number of stitches for each series. It will also be understood that the pitman 20 can be adjusted in the arm 22 so as to cause the stopping of the machine at any time desired and thus adapting the machine to sewing on a variety of buttons.

It will thus be seen that the buttons are sewed upon the material with an ornamental, strong and durable stitch; and when a predetermined number of stitches have been placed the machine is automatically stopped to allow another button to be placed in position.

I claim- 1. In a button sewing machine, the combination with the driving shaft, bed plate and stitch forming mechanism, of fixed and loose driving wheels carried by the main shaft, a button holder and carrier, means for pivotally supporting the same, a cam on the main shaft, a vibrating lever connected with said cam, a rod connected pivotally to one end of said lever and to the said carrier, a ratchet wheel carrying a tappet, an operating connection between said vibrating lever and said ratchet, and mechanism connected with the loose driving wheel and operated by said tappet, whereby the machine is stopped at every revolution of the tappet.

2. In a button sewing machine, the combination with the driving shaft, bed plate and stitch forming mechanism, of fixed and loose driving Wheels carried by the main shaft, of a lever fulcrumed on the bed plate and provided at an intermediate point of its length with a depending bifurcated lug that extends into cam grooves formed in a disk on the driving shaft a button holder and carrier, means "for pivotally supporting the same, a rodconnecting said holder and carrier with one end of the lever fulcrumed on the bed plate, a pitman connected at one end to the other end of said lever and operating at its other end a pawl that engages with the teeth of a ratchet wheel, a spring pressed rod connected with the loose driving wheel and with a lever, 33, fulcrumed below the bed plate, a longitudinally movable bar arranged below the bed plate and connected with the lever, 33, and a tappet carried by the hub of the ratchet wheel adapted to contact, at each revolution, with one end of the longitudinally movable bar, substantially as shown and described, for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof Iaffix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALVIN WALRATH.

Witnesses:

E. J. COFFIN, P. H. MCEVOY. 

